Sport
Top of the table AFL clash set to light up Etihad Stadium
Does it get any bigger than this? The two top teams on the AFL ladder are set to fight it out under the Etihad Stadium roof in a Friday night blockbuster.
North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs will go head-to-head in what promises to be an incredible match and perhaps the highlight of AFL Round 6.
The match is a home game for North Melbourne in name only as both clubs are tenants at Etihad Stadium. North Melbourne is currently undefeated and the Doggies have suffered just one loss; a 3-point thriller against Hawthorn.
The match on Friday night promises to be fast, fierce and highly entertaining. Both the Kangaroos and Bulldogs play exciting, high-scoring football, which should ensure the opening match of AFL Round 6 lives up to the hype.
It will be hard to pick a winner in this match, but it will be very easy to sit back and enjoy the game and the incredible atmosphere under the Etihad Stadium roof. Click here to purchase tickets for North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Friday April 29 at 7.50pm.
Round 6 of the AFL season is turning into a tipster’s nightmare with many evenly-matched teams set to line up against each other.
Etihad Stadium will host Melbourne and St Kilda on Saturday April 30 at 1.45pm in what is expected to be a tight contest. The Dees are on a roll and have won three matches so far in 2016. St Kilda, despite registering just one win, has shown plenty of fight and class so far in the season and should prove to be very good competition for Melbourne.
Etihad Stadium was the scene of Melbourne’s worst nightmare in 2015; with just 41 seconds remaining in the match, the Demons were four points ahead and seemingly heading for victory. Enter Leigh Montagna. The Saints veteran slotted a goal with just 19 seconds remaining and St Kilda held on for an exhilarating victory.
Etihad Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for Melbourne over the past few years. Will this weekend be the game that changes that or will Paul Roos’ men fall into old habits? Only time will tell; click here to get tickets for Melbourne v St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Saturday April 30 at 1.45pm.
Later on Saturday, Hawthorn will return to the scene of one of their shock 2015 losses when the reigning premiers take on the GWS Giants at Spotless Stadium. The Giants and Hawks are fairly evenly matched and sit 6th and 5th on the AFL ladder respectively.
Hawthorn has won three 3-point thrillers in a row so the Giants will not want this game to come down to the line. In 2015, GWS pulled off one of the upsets of the AFL season, beating Hawthorn by 10 points in Round 6. In this Round 6 they will be hoping for a repeat of that effort. Click here to buy tickets to GWS v Hawthorn at Spotless Stadium on Saturday April 30 at 4.35pm.
But the big matches don’t stop there. Geelong will host the Gold Coast SUNS on Saturday under lights at Simonds Stadium. The Cats are travelling along beautifully with four wins and just one loss and the SUNS will be looking to snap their losing streak and jump back onto the winner’s list.
Former Cats superstar Gary Ablett Jnr will venture into familiar territory on Saturday night. It will be delightful to see three of the AFL’s greatest midfielders running wild at Simonds Stadium with Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood up against Ablett and the young SUNS players. Click here if you want to be there to see Geelong play the Gold Coast SUNS at Simonds Stadium on Saturday April 30 at 7.25pm.
Despite a very positive showing on Anzac Day, Collingwood faces one of the toughest road trips in the AFL, taking on West Coast at Domain Stadium on Sunday. The Eagles are sitting 3-2 at the moment, but they have not lost a game at home in 2016.
The Eagles are a slick outfit – particularly on the wide expanses of Domain Stadium – and they will look to stretch Collingwood in the height department. Collingwood looks likely to take their ‘American Pie’ Mason Cox west after he debuted on Anzac Day, but they may be without Travis Varcoe, who suffered a hamstring injury in the 69-point win over Essendon.
West Coast is coming off a loss to Sydney and has a point to prove on their home turf. Tickets for this match are scarce, but click here to try your luck to see West Coast v Collingwood live at Domain Stadium on Sunday May 1 at 2.40pm (local time).
The Brisbane Lions will play host to the in-form Sydney Swans on Sunday at the Gabba. The Lions have struggled in 2016 winning just one match and the Swans have been dominant, sitting 3rd on the ladder at 4-1.
While on paper you would expect the Swans to get the points, footy is a funny game and an upset is always a possibility. One thing is for certain; the Brisbane Lions need your help and support on game day to be the best they can be. Click here to get tickets and cheer on the Lions when they take on the Swans at the Gabba on Sunday May 1 at 1.10pm.
Elsewhere, Carlton and Essendon will renew hostilities with both clubs looking for their second wins of the AFL season. The Crows will host a winless Fremantle on Saturday afternoon and the local side will be hoping they can keep the Dockers on the bottom of the ladder and record their fourth win of the season.
Richmond will host Port Adelaide, but they will be without defender Alex Rance, who is suspended, and could lose forward Jack Riewoldt to injury as well. The Tigers and Power are both under enormous pressure so this match will be bliss for one club and a complete nightmare for the other.
Overall it is set to be an incredible round of AFL football. There is nothing quite like being there in the crowd to see your team live. The clubs need your support so get on board and cheer your team to victory during Round 6 of the AFL season. Click here to purchase AFL tickets.
